New Yorkers may see a hike in their utility bills from President Trump’s ongoing tariff spat with Canada — but Empire State officials were unclear on how much, with Dems warning of Doomsday without proof.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford followed through on his threats last week by slapping a 25% surcharge Monday on energy exports to the Canadian province’s three US state customers: New York, Michigan and Minnesota. Ford has also threatened to cut off the exports entirely.
His response comes after Trump threatened, then postponed, sweeping 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods and 10% tariffs on energy imports last week.
New York’s grid operator appeared to brush off the Canadian power play.
The New York Independent System Operator, a quasi-public agency, said the state imports a relatively paltry roughly 4% of its power supply from Ontario — and has enough generating capacity to make up for a cut-off or pricier Canadian exports.
“The NYISO is analyzing the impacts of the order by the Ontario Premier and working closely with the Independent Electricity Operator of Ontario to ensure a reliable grid and stable flows of electricity across interregional transmission lines,” the NYISO wrote in a statement Monday.
“The NYISO expects to have adequate reserves to meet reliability criteria and forecasted demand for New York,” it said.
According to a recent NYISO report, the grid used 6,628 gigawatt hours of imported energy from Ontario in 2023. That’s around 4% of the 149,518 gigawatt hours New York used over the same year.
Still, tampering with New York’s imported Canadian supply could have ripple effects on its complex grid system and utility pricing process.
In a letter addressed to her own Department of Public Service and Energy Research and Development Authority on Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) “urge” an analysis of the tariffs’ potential impact on New York.
“We will not allow President Trump and Congressional Republicans to play politics with our energy security while hardworking New Yorkers foot the bill,” the leaders wrote.
Hochul and Schumer warned that the tariff war will ultimately lead to higher energy prices.
“These tariffs will drive up utility bills, disrupt energy markets, and create uncertainty for businesses and families alike,” the pols said. “They are not only economically harmful but also dangerously short-sighted.”
Hochul had said just last week that she was not concerned about Ford’s threats.
“I feel positive that anything within his power that he can control, that we do not have a target on our backs,” Hochul told reporters.
Reps for power providers Con Edison, National Grid and NYSEG all referred questions about the impacts of the tariffs to the NYISO.
A representative for the Department of Public Service, which is responsible for regulating the utilities, forwarded Hochul and Schumer’s letter to The Post when asked for comment.